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Tone arm vs Cartridge upgrades

Another question regarding upgrading the analogue section of my system.

In general is money better spent upgrading a cartridge vs tone arm?

Current tone arm is an Origin Live Silver and cartridge Soundsmith Zephyr Mk III on a Feikert Volare TT.  Using Leben electronics and DeVore O93 speakers.

Price point around 2K to spend.  ( Note there is a trade up program with Origin Live which would likely extend the actual price point on a tone arm).

Thanks, in advance for your insights.

rivinyl
slaw's avatar
slaw
26,495 posts
 

If you're interested in some "food for thought", check out the Funk Firm videos on YouTube. Lot of good info, IMO, on tonearm material resonance and so on.

I own an older FXR arm with internal X bracing.

tablejockey
4,403 posts
 

Are you getting maximum performance out of the current arm/cart thru the "best" phonostage?

 

tooblue
2,079 posts
 

Your table and arm seem to be a well proven combo that people seem to pair together more often than not so I would stick with that proven duo and concentrate on the cart since you have noted it is long in tooth. I would look closer at the phono stage, would love to know which one you have now, and how well it would do with a new cart, and don't forget about a good arc protractor and proper set up tools to get everything just right. Enjoy the music

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